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Lena Wms
Supporter
What a FUN question! Although my Brother has given an awesome and through background in God's Word, I do have a bit different perspective. I have been taught by my Spiritual Leader to take such interesting questions like these and run to the Strong's Concordance, find what these words mean in the original languages. Since 2 Kings is in the Old Testament, we can look in the Hebrew. Gilgal means a whirlwind. A wheel, heaven, a rolling thing, it comes from a root word (always try to find the root word) meaning to roll, to seek occasion, commit, run down, wallow, TRUST! Since Elijah told Elisha over and over to stay behind, I believe that Elijah knew God was going to take him to Heaven to prepare for the Tribulation Ministry he will have. I believe Elijah was testing Elisha, or rather God was. To test his sincerity as God was preparing Elisha for a double portion of Elijah's mantle. (Double the miracles) Gilgal was part of the testing ground. To see if Elisha would Trust God in the middle of a whirlwind. He must have learned his lessons well, he received the mantle, he saw Elijah ascend into the Heavens on a chariot. He then was able to open the Jordan River with the Mantle on his own arm. A special signal that God had given it to him. 2 Kings 2:13-14 esword.net is an awesome place to get your online, great for mobiles too! Be Blessed, Lena
Tim Maas
Supporter
Gilgal had been one of the locations on the "circuit" made by the prophet Samuel in his capacity as the last of the judges of Israel (1 Samuel, Chapters 7, 11, and 15). It was one of a number of locations (including also Ramah (1 Samuel 10), Samaria (1 Kings 22), Bethel (2 Kings 2), Jericho (2 Kings 2), and Carmel (2 Kings 4)) mentioned in 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Kings, where a group of prophets was present. Although the specific reason for Elijah's presence in Gilgal is not given in 2 Kings 2, it would thus be reasonable to conclude that he had gone there as part of his own calling or responsibility as a prophet to meet with the group of prophets that were in Gilgal. (This would be especially plausible if Elijah had knowledge that his career as a prophet was nearing its end, and for that reason had his successor Elisha accompany him on the visit).
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